Combined wrapping and taping work table

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a combined wrapping and taping work table for shipping department use having a flat working surface which is divided into two areas, one being fixed and the other being hingedly connected for upward movement, a compartment below the fixed area having vertically disposed rolls of wrapping paper with spring-pressed tearing bars in engagement with their peripheries, and the compartment below the hinged area having two gummed tape delivery and moistening machines, and a labeling device, one of said gummed tape delivery and moistening machines having a hinged crank arm extension or handle which lies horizontally below said hinged work table surface when at rest, an enlarged opening in said work table above said hinged crank arm connecting to a forwardly directed slot, said hinged crank arm being manually engageable through said enlarged opening and movable along said slot to deliver a preselected amount of moistened tape.

United States Patent Frank P. Mitten 182 W. 55th St., New York, N.Y. 10019 211 App]. No. 856,755

[22] Filed Sept. 10, 1969 [45] Patented May 25, 1971 [72] Inventor [54] COMBINED WRAPPING AND TAPING WORK [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,530,977 3/1925 Brady et a1 53/390UX 2,140,179 12/1938 Wickliffe..... 53/390 3,292,344 12/1966 Fellner 53/390 Primary Examiner-Granville Y. Custer, Jr. Assistant Examiner-Robert L. Spruill Attarneys-l-loward J. Churchill, Robert S. Dunham, P. E.

Henninger, Lester W. Clark, Gerald W. Griffin, Thomas F. Moran and R. Bradlee Boal ABSTRACT: The present invention provides a combined wrapping and taping work table for shipping department use having a flat working surface which is divided into two areas, one being fixed and the other being hingedly connected for upward movement, a compartment below the fixed area having vertically disposed rolls of wrapping paper with springpressed tearing bars in engagement with their peripheries, and the compartment below the hinged area having two gummed tape delivery and moistening machines, and a labeling device, one of said gummed tape delivery and moistening machines having a hinged crank arm extension or handle which lies horizontally below said hinged work table surface when at rest, an enlarged opening in said work table above said hinged crank arm connecting to a forwardly directed slot, said hinged crank arm being manually engageable through said enlarged opening and movable along said slot to deliver a preselected amount of moistened tape.

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FRANK P. MiTTEN AT ORNEY COMBINED WRAPPING AND TAPENG WORK TABLE The present invention relates to a combined wrapping, taping and labeling work table for use in shipping departments and like business areas whereat it is desired fully to enclose or wrap merchandise-containing cartons or packages with durable wrapping paper, to seal and close such wrapping paper with adhesive-coated tape, and to apply a gummed label to such wrapped carton or package. More particularly, the present invention provides a combined wrapping, taping and labeling table which has a flat work surface and which has disposed below such flat work surface and readily accessible therefrom all of the essential components for wrapping, taping and labeling a carton or package ready for mailing or other delivery.

In many business operations today which involve the wrapping, taping and labeling of cartons or other packages containing merchandise for mail or other type transshipment to customers, it has been found that the shipping or like departments where these functions are performed entail considerable waste space if all of the supplies for use in such operation are disposed above the levels of the work tables on which such operations are performed. Furthermore, in such shipping and like departments it is essential that each shipping clerk or other person involved in the operation be provided with a flat surface area such as a table, bench or the like on which such operations can be performed.

In carton or package shipping department operations it is customary to have rolls of wrapping paper of one or more width sizes from which the desired length may be torn off by the application of a tearing force against a spring-pressed knife edge bearing against the periphery of the roll of wrapping paper. It is also customary to utilize a well-known type of gummed tape delivery machine having a crank arm which will cause a preselected amount of gummed tape to be delivered in moistened condition for ready application to the package or carton which has been enclosed in the preselected wrapping paper. Frequently at least two types of such gummed tape machines are used in shipping departments,one usually supplying longer and wider lengths of gummed tape, and the other providing a shorter length and narrower width of a similar tape. Also, it is quite customary to have a label moistening device wherein gummed labels may be passed through and suitably moistened for ready application to the wrapped carton or package. Finally, it is quite common in shipping departments to have stacks of circulars or other literature which should be inserted in the package before wrapping.

The present invention meets allof the foregoing requirements of a shipping department and disposes them below a flat table or bench top where they are readily accessible to the shipping clerk in a compact area while at the same time affording a flat unencumbered working area for the wrapping, sealing and labeling operations. Furthermore, the present invention provides a unitary device which contains all of the essentials for a complete shipping department operation, and which is portable and may readily be moved from one location to another.

For a better understanding of the invention reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along the lines 3-3 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows, and showing in partial vertical cross section the label moistening device;

FIG. 4 is a section taken along the lines M of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows and showing in side elevation one of the gummed tape delivery and moistening devices; and

FIG. 5 is a view taken along the lines 5-5 of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows and showing in side elevation another gummed tape delivery and moistening device.

Referring now to the drawings for a more detailed description of the invention, is a shipping department work table and cabinet provided by the present invention. Such work table and cabinet comprises a flat top 11, end walls 12, 12a, a rear wall 13, a bottom supporting platform 14, and casters 15 located on the underface of the platform adjacent each corner so as to render such work table and cabinet portable and to permit it to be moved from one location to another.

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the top surface 11 of the work table or cabinet 10 is of generally rectangular shape, and is flat and unencumbered so as to provide for the shipping clerk using such work table a flat working surface for performing the requisite wrapping, taping and labeling operations.

It will also be noted that the top surface 11 is composed of two areas of approximately equal size, one of which 16 is fixed and the other of which 17 is hingedly connected to the rear portion 18 of the top 11 by a piano hinge 19,-the two areas 16 and 17 having lateral abutting edges 20, 200. It will also be noted that there is an intermediate wall 21 below abutting edges 20, 20a of the two top areas, such intermediate wall 21 dividing the cabinet into two compartments 22, 23, such wall 21 being substantially parallel to the end walls 12, 12a and extending from the rear wall 13 to the front of the cabinet.

Compartment 22 is provided with two rolls of wrapping paper 24, 25 which are vertically disposed and which have the customary spring-pressed bar 26 engaging against the periphery of such rolls to permit a preselected length of wrapping paper to be torn from such rolls along the cutting edge of bar 26 to provide a suitable amount of wrapping paper for a carton or package. A supporting base 30 and standard 31 are provided for each roll so that the roll is spaced above the base 30 and out of engagement therewith for ready removal of the wrapping paper.

Compartment 22 also contains two open-ended shelves 32, 33 where stacks of leaflets and other advertising literature may be stored.

It will be noted that in compartment 22 a wider roll of wrapping paper 24 is disposed at one side and that a narrower roll of wrapping paper 25 is disposed at the other side, with the result that the shelves 32, 33 are conveniently located above roll 25 of lesser width.

Referring now to compartment 23, which is disposed beneath the hinged area 17 of top surface 11, it will be noted that there is disposed below the underside of the hinged area 17 and in close proximity thereto a well-known type of machine for delivering and moistening a predetermined length of adhesive-coated tape for use in taping together the abutting or overlapping edges of the wrapping paper. As best seen in FIG. 4, the machine 35 is supported on an intermediate platform 36 extending from the rear wall 13 of the cabinet 10 to the front area and between the end wall 12 and the intermediate wall 21.

As the particular construction of the adhesively-coated tape delivery and moistening machine 35 is well known and forms no part of the present invention, aside from the modified crank handle which is provided by this invention, the machine is only shown in general outline. Essentially it comprises a wheel 40 having a crank arm 41, a return spring 42, a graduated arcuate slot 43, movable stop pin 44, and delivery plate 45. With this construction it will be understood that as the crank arm 41 is pulled forwardly or to the right as viewed in FIG. 4, a predetermined amount of gummed tape, suitably moistened, will be delivered at the front end 50 of the cabinet along the delivery plate 45,-the length of tape being determined by the setting of the stop pin 44 in the graduated arcuate slot 43. Upon release of the crank arm 41 the spring 42 returns it to its starting position ready for the delivery of another length of moistened gummed tape.

According to the present invention the upper end 51 of crank arm at in its at rest position is disposed below the level of the top surface 11 of the work table 10 and is particularly located below the hinged area 17 of such top surface. An extension member or handle 52 is pivotally connected to the upper end 51 of the crank am 41 by pivot 53, such extension member 52 having a lower stop 54 and an upper stop 55. As

best seen in full lines in FIG. 4 the extension member or handle 52, in its at rest position, is disposed substantially horizontally with the stop 54 engaging the edge 56 of the crank arm 41. When the extension member or handle 52 is in its working position as shown in phantom in FIG. 4 a stop 55 engages shoulder 57 on the crank arm 41.

Referring now to FIG. 1 it will be noted that an enlarged opening 60 is provided in the hinged surface area 17 and that a slot 61 extending toward the front 50 of the cabinet connects with such enlarged opening 60. It will also be noted that the extension member or handle 52 is disposed below such enlarged opening 60 so that it may be manually gripped by the shipping clerk who merely inserts his hand into such opening to raise it into working engagement with the crank arm 41 and then to move it forwardly along the slot 61 to effectuate delivery of a ouantity of moistened gummed tape. As best seen in FIG. 4, in its at rest position, the extension member or handle 52 is flush with or slightly below the level of the area 17 of the work table top 11 and hence does not encumber such work table during the wrapping operation.

In many shipping department operations it is customary to have at least two types of gummed tape moistening and delivery devices. A second such type of device 65 is best shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings and comprises a finger lever 66 suitably pivoted at 68 to a wheel assembly generally indicated as 69 which delivers a measured quantity of gummed tape at 70 upon downward pressure of the end 71 of the lever 66. As best seen in FIG. 2, the gummed tape and moistening device 65 is supported within compartment 23 on a shelf 72 with the end 71 of the lever 66 immediately below the undersurface of hinged area 17 and adjacent the front edge 50 of the cabinet. A cutout 75 preferably of semicircular shape is provided in the front edge 50 of the surface area 17 so as to expose the end 71 of lever 66 so that such lever can be actuated by the shipping clerk merely by depressing the same for the delivery of a measured quantity of moistened gummed tape.

1n shipping practice the gummed tape and moistening device 65 customarily is of narrower width for sealing the overlapping end folds of wrapping paper when wrapped around cartons or other packages; and tape delivery and moistening devices such as 35 are customarily used only for the overlapping or abutting edges of the wrapping paper to provide the longitudinal closures. It will thus be understood that with the device of the present invention both types of gummed tapes are readily available to the shipping clerk without disturbing or encumbering the flat work surface of the work table.

A further feature of the invention is that a third cutout portion 77 is provided in the hinged area 17 intermediate its front and rear edges. Disposed within such third cutout area 77 and suitably supported on a shelf 78 is a label moistening device 79. Such label moistening device is of conventional construction and comprises a rectangular box containing water which is closed in par by top plate 80 having an edge plate 81 spaced slightly above, such edge plate being engaged on its underside by a brush 83 immersed in the water 84 contained in such box. As labels having gummed bottom surfaces are slid across the top plate 80 under the edge plate 81 they come in contact with the moistened brush 83 and are delivered in moistened condition through the slot 85 ready for application to the wrapped carton or package.

It will be noted that the moistening device 79 and its top plate 80 and edge plate 81 are so located with respect to the hinged surface 17 that they virtually fill in or occupy the eutout area 77 and thereby provide a more or less continuous flat surface which is unencumbered.

As a further convenience in the wrapping, taping and labeling operation the space in compartment 23 below the intermediate platform 36 has been provided with a plurality of pull drawers 86 for storage of various miscellaneous supplies required for the shipping department operations.

As will be seen in phantom line in H6. 4 of the drawings the hinged surface area 17 of the work table top 11 may be.

manually raised so as to uncover the adhesively coated tape delivery and moistening machine 35, the smaller tape machine 65, and the label moistening device 79. Hence, it will be readily recognized that the shipping department work table and cabinet provided by the present invention lends itself to ready repair, servicing, adjustment and refilling of each of such devices without disturbing the unitary assembly.

It will be understood from the foregoing description that the present invention supplies a compact self-contained portable shipping department work table having a flat unencumbered working surface which not only results in important space saving but also contributes substantially to the efficiency of shipping department operations for the reason that all of the materials essential to a shipping department operation for wrapping cartons, packages and the like are conveniently arranged and readily available to the shipping clerk for use without disturbing the flat working surface area.

1 claim:

1. A combined wrapping and taping work table having a flat top providing a working area, a gummed tape delivery machine disposed below said table top in close proximity thereto, said gummed tape delivery machine being of the type which has a wheel and a vertically disposed crank arm for actuating such wheel to deliver a length of tape upon actuation of such crank arm, characterized in that said crank arm has a hinged portion which nonnally lies horizontally below the top surface of said table, said table has an enlarged opening above the outer end of said crank arm and a slot connected with said enlarged opening, whereby said crank arm may be manually raised above said table top and moved along said slot to deliver a length of gummed tape.

2. A combined wrapping and taping work table according to claim 1, wherein there are at least two areas of such table top, one of said areas being fixed and the other of said areas being hinged for upward movement.

3. A combined wrapping and taping machine according to claim 2 wherein a roll of wrapping paper having a springpressed tearing bar is disposed below said fixed area of the top, and the gummed tape delivery machine is disposed below the hinged area of the top, such hinged area of the top being provided with the enlarged opening and connected slot through which the crank arm may be raised and moved.

4. A combined wrapping and taping work table according to claim 3, wherein the hinged area of the top is connected to the top adjacent its rearward edge by a piano hinge which is substantially flush with the top when closed so as to provide a flat work surface.

5. A combined wrapping and taping work table according to claim 4, wherein a second gummed tape delivery machine is disposed beneath the hinged area of the table top in close proximity thereto, said second gummed tape delivery machine being of the type having a depressible finger lever for delivering a predetermined length of tape, and a cutout portion provided in the front edge of such hinged top area, said depressible finger lever being disposed below said cutout, whereby a length of tape may be delivered by pressing the finger lever through such cutout.

6. A combined wrapping and taping machine according to claim 5, wherein another opening is provided in said hinged top portion, and a label moistening device is disposed below such opening and in close proximity thereto, whereby such opening is substantially closed by such label moistening device.

7. A combined wrapping and taping work table according to claim 6, wherein at least two rolls of wrapping paper having spring-pressed tearing bars are vertically disposed below said fixed top area, a plurality of drawers are disposed at the lower end of the hinged top area below the taping and labelling devices, and the entire device is mounted on casters and movable as a unitary structure.

8. A combined wrapping and taping work table according to claim 5, wherein the taping devices are rendered readily accessible upon raising of the hinged top area.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION 3 579 962 Ma.z 25, l91L Invent G) FRANK P. MITTEN It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Patent No.

Abstract gage the inventor's address should read 182 W. 58th St., New York, N.Y. 10019 the first U.S. reference should read ,53 ,977 3/19 5 B y et 81 Claims Claim 1, column line 21, after "top" insert and Signed and sealed this 9th day of May 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attestj ng Officer Commissioner of Patents USCOMM'DC 503764 69 FORM PO-IOSO (10-69) 1: us sovznunsm PRINTING ornc: nu o-ss6-:u 

1. A combined wrapping and taping work table having a flat top providing a working area, a gummed tape delivery machine disposed below said table top in close proximity thereto, said gummed tape delivery machine being of the type which has a wheel and a vertically disposed crank arm for actuating such wheel to deliver a length of tape upon actuation of such crank arm, characterized in that said crank arm has a hinged portion which normally lies horizontally below the top surface of said table, said table has an enlarged opening above the outer end of said crank arm and a slot connected with said enlarged opening, whereby said crank arm may be manually raised above said table top and moved along said slot to deliver a length of gummed tape.
 2. A combined wrapping and taping work table according to claim 1, wherein there are at least two areas of such table top, one of said areas being fixed and the other of said areas being hinged for upward movement.
 3. A combined wrapping and taping machine according to claim 2 wherein a roll of wrapping paper having a spring-pressed tearing bar is disposed below said fixed area of the top, and the gummed tape delivery machine is disposed below the hinged area of the top, such hinged area of the top being provided with the enlarged opening and connected slot through which the crank arm may be raised and moved.
 4. A combined wrapping and taping work table according to claim 3, wherein the hinged area of the top is connected to the top adjacent its rearward edge by a piano hinge which is substantially flush with the top when closed so as to provide a flat work surface.
 5. A combined wrapping and taping work table according to claim 4, wherein a second gummed tape delivery machine is disposed beneath the hinged area of the table top in close proximity thereto, said second gummed tape delivery machine being of the type having a depressible finger lever for delivering a predetermined length of tape, and a cutout portion provided in the front edge of such hinged top area, said depressible finger lever being disposed below said cutout, whereby a length of tape may be delivered by pressing the finger lever through such cutout.
 6. A combined wrapping and taping machine according to claim 5, wherein another opening is provided in said hinged top portion, and a label moistening device is disposed below such opening and in close proximity thereto, whereby such opening is substantially closed by such label moistening device.
 7. A combined wrapping and taping work table according to claim 6, wherein at least two rolls of wrapping paper having spring-pressed tearing bars are vertically disposed below said fixed top area, a plurality of drawers are disposed at the lower end of the hinged top area below the taping and labelling devices, and the entire device is mounted on casters and movable as a unitary structure.
 8. A combined wrapping and taping work table according to claim 5, wherein the taping devices are rendered readily accessible upon raising of the hinged top area. 